The game of the day did not disappoint as the contest came down to the final play at Brooks Stadium between No. 13 BYU and No. 18 Coastal Carolina.
Unfortunately for the Cougars, despite traveling 2,200 miles on short notice, the team came up one yard short as the Chanticleers held on for a thrilling 22-17 victory Saturday night.
With less than a minute to go in the game and without any timeouts, BYU drove 70+ yards to get down to the 18-yard line. With just three seconds left, Wilson dropped back to pass before firing a laser to wide receiver Dax Milne who caught the ball near the goal line before he was met by several Coastal Carolina players who kept him out of the end zone.
College football game of the year?
Coastal Carolina holds off BYU to stay undefeated in a game announced just two days ago.pic.twitter.com/FUx2wfDZJn
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 6, 2020
The game certainly lived up to the hype and although one team was going to see their perfect season come to an end, the two programs gave college football fans one of the best games of the season.
Like it’s game against Houston, BYU scored on its first play of the game as Wilson hit Neil Pau’u for a 91-yard touchdown. However, a holding penalty negated the touchdown and the Cougars were forced to punt.
Despite 405 yards of total offense compared to just 366 for Coastal Carolina, it was the execution and time of possession that won the game for the Chanticleers. BYU had the ball for just 22 minutes compared to nearly 38 minutes for Coastal Carolina.
With the loss, BYU’s hopes of going to a New Year’s Six bowl game were dashed. The Cougars, an independent, needed to go undefeated for consideration since they are only eligible for an at-large berth compared to other conferences.
Despite the loss, BYU received plenty of praise by the college football world for making the game happen when most teams are looking for ways to opt out of games.
Here’s how the media, fans and players reacted after the game:
Salute to both Coastal and BYU for throwing a game together out of nowhere then playing a game like that.
Just tremendous. What a finish.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) December 6, 2020
What a GREAT game!! Congrats to @CoastalFootball on a hard fought victory. And respect to @BYUfootball for taking this game on short notice and playing their hearts out.
— Desmond Howard (@DesmondHoward) December 6, 2020
Love that @BYUfootball went down on short notice and took that game…GREAT win for the Chants!!!
Love CFB!
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) December 6, 2020
The game of the year may have nothing to do with the playoff or even a conference title. Thanks Chants and Cougars.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) December 6, 2020
Great finish in Conway. Congrats to the Chants. And thank you to both teams for making this game happen!
— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) December 6, 2020
Column: A thank you to BYU and Coastal Carolina — for daring to play each other, on the fly, and then delivering the best game of the season. https://t.co/cKCoo0nw92
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) December 6, 2020
BYU is now completely out of #CFBPlayoff contention and likely out of NY6 consideration. But they went out on their own terms against a great opponent.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 6, 2020
Mood pic.twitter.com/9EIcAI2dWk
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 6, 2020
OH MY GOD, BYU CAME UP 2 YARDS SHORT!
FINAL: No. 18 Coastal Carolina 22, No. 13 BYU 17.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 6, 2020
Everything about this game lived up to the hype.
The quick turnaround
Mormons vs. Mullets
Close throughout
Wild finish!If Clemson-ND has been the Game of the Year, this comes in right behind it.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 6, 2020
I've been campaigning for years to end non-conference scheduling 15 years in advance.
Tonight, I rest my case.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 6, 2020
Stopped at the 1! What a finish. What a game.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) December 6, 2020
That play was semi-kinda reminiscent of Mike Jones tackling Kevin Dyson at the 1. Slightly smaller stakes this time. But a similarly dramatic open-field tackle at the 1.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) December 6, 2020
Wow. What a stop!!! pic.twitter.com/Y6vByJu9ZF
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 6, 2020
I'll just say it:
Winner of Coastal/BYU should get a spot in the playoff
— Lisan Al Gaib 🇵🇸🇲🇽 (@darthlisan561) December 5, 2020
So much freaking respect for BYU after tonight. Great team.
— Joseph Goodman, Sports Enthusiast 🎟🍺 (@JoeGoodmanJr) December 6, 2020
Thank you @CoastalFootball and @BYUfootball for figuring out how to make this happen last minute… there’s conferences and teams out there that would NEVER allow this to happen
🗣 THIS GAME IS AWESOME
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 6, 2020
Much credit to BYU for playing that game. Much respect to the Chanticleers for finding a way to win it. A great day for college football.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) December 6, 2020
BYU and Coastal Carolina slapped this thing together from scratch in like 48 hours and played one of the two or three best games of the year.
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) December 6, 2020
BYU/Coastal ending had a “Friday Night Lights” Odessa Permian feel
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) December 6, 2020
Love these boys and this team. Wouldn’t want to go to battle with anyone else!
— Fesi Sitake (@fsitake) December 6, 2020
Grateful for this game and the lessons we learn. Nothing but respect to @CoastalFootball. Thanks for showing out cougar nation! 💙
— Khyiris Tonga (@khyiristonga) December 6, 2020
Love my guys. I’ll ride for them any day. #gocougs
— Uriah Leiataua (@lopa54) December 6, 2020
Love my brothers and wouldn’t choose anyone else to be by my side, thick or thin. Still a dream come true to fight with them and wear the royal blue.
— Kyle Griffitts (@kgee42) December 6, 2020
You earn everything in this game. It does not forgive or do favors. Props to the better team tonight. Lock in and get our edge back. Go Cougs! ??
— Eric Mateos (@CoachMateos) December 6, 2020
Just want to remind every fan, former player, myself & everyone that it will be ok. Frustrating to lose to a team that we should have beat. I know @BYUfootball players are more frustrated than anyone right now. Let’s recognize what happened and move forward with positive energy!
— Travis Tuioti-Mariner Tuiloma (@travistuiloma) December 6, 2020
Despite the loss, @isaiah_kaufusi is extremely proud of the team's effort.#BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/uN8G7yhQwU
— BYUtv Sports (@byutvsports) December 6, 2020
I still love that BYU took the game.
That was awesome.
Needed a little more to win. pic.twitter.com/CP5Tb9y3eP
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) December 6, 2020
Love our guys @BYUfootball !❤🏈🤙
— CAR Cougar (@CarlCarlrussell) December 6, 2020
BYU gambled with multi-million dollars tonight (NY6 berth) & it came up snake eyes. Raw, bummer deal for the Cougars#BYUfootball #BYU #LOC
— Jake Hatch (Yawk) Utah Hockey Club Aficionado (@JacobCHatch) December 6, 2020
The BYU-Coastal Carolina game is exactly why the FBS needs a 16-team playoff. This had a March Madness feel to it.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) December 6, 2020
Credit to BYU. Traveled across the country on a few days notice. Had a size advantage but Coastal was physical. Probably wouldn’t have made a NY6 without this game and definitely won’t now with a loss. Brutal that so much hinges on one game but that’s life as an Independent
— Brennan Smith (@BrennanJSmith) December 6, 2020
Regroup.
Finish the season with 1 loss and a top 20 ranking.
Bummer it's not a NY6 opportunity.
Wilson gets drafted in the 1st or 2nd round.
Special season potential still there. Just not the big time NY6 game hoped for.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) December 6, 2020
There was catholics vs. convicts and now Coastal Carolina fans bring us … pic.twitter.com/n1DxmucKC5
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 5, 2020
